For purposes deemed wise and good, we faculty members in the Foothill-De Anza Community College District herewith form the Foothill-De Anza Faculty Association, an organization whose goal is to represent all faculty in the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in matters pertaining to employment and professional relations, pursuant to California State law and our own sense of professional responsibility.
The name of this organization is the Foothill-De Anza Faculty Association (herein called the Faculty Association).
Section 1. Membership is generally available to all certificated employees of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District except those employees defined as supervisory or management personnel pursuant to Chapter 10.7 of the California State Government Code. However, the Faculty Association may establish in its bylaws other reasonable restrictions regarding who may join the Faculty Association and may make reasonable provisions for the dismissal of individuals.
Section 2. Each member of the Faculty Association is entitled to one vote on issues presented to the membership.
Section 3. Membership in other professional organizations does not prejudice Faculty Association membership.
Section 4. Membership is on an individual annual basis and continues on payment of annual membership dues and assessments.
Section 1. Annual dues shall be set as a percentage of the individual member’s gross income from the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.
Section 2. Annual dues shall be proposed by the Executive Council after due consideration of the projected cost of the level of service desired by the membership. The membership will then approve or disapprove the dues proposal in a vote. The issue shall be decided by a majority of those members voting.
Section 3. When a financial emergency is deemed to exist by the Executive Council, the Council may propose to the membership a special assessment which shall be considered separate and independent of regular annual dues. Such proposals shall be approved or disapproved by a majority of those members voting.
Section 1. The authority to govern the Faculty Association is vested in an Executive Council (herein also called the Council) of not less than 13 nor more than 25 voting members. The Board has the authority to determine policy and direct the operation of the Faculty Association.
Section 2. The Executive Council is empowered to create all bylaws and rules necessary for the operation of the Faculty Association. Approval or deletion of any bylaw shall require an affirmative vote of two thirds of the Executive Council membership.
Section 3. The Council members shall be elected for a term of two years. There shall be no limit to the number of consecutive terms a Council member may serve. The name of a candidate for the Council shall be placed on a Council election ballot upon transmittal to the Executive Secretary of a petition signed by ten (10) Faculty Association members supporting the candidate’s candidacy.
Section 4. Seventeen members of the Executive Council shall be elected. Of these, six regular faculty members shall represent Foothill College and be elected by members at that campus; seven regular faculty members shall represent De Anza College and be elected by members at that campus; and four part-time faculty members shall represent the part-time members and shall be elected by the entire membership without regard to campus. In the event that a Faculty Association member has work assignments at both colleges, the member shall state the college through which she/he would be represented on the Council.
Section 5. The Council shall meet at least once monthly during the school year to conduct business and respond to its various constituencies. In the event that a Faculty Association member has work assignments at both colleges, the member shall state the college through which she/he would be represented on the Council.
Section 6. The Faculty Association, in whatever way shall be deemed appropriate and reasonable, shall compensate Council members for attendance at regular Council meetings. If an emergency meeting of the Council is necessary and is two hours or less, the compensated with be $25.00; over two hours the compensation will be $50.00.
Section 1. An executive council president, council vice-president and Faculty Association executive secretary are the officers of the Faculty Association. Their terms of office shall be one year with no limit as to the number of consecutive terms.
Section 2. The Council President shall be elected through majority vote of the Council and shall have served either as an Executive Council member or in an executive staff position for at least one year. The president’s duties include, but are not limited to, presiding over Council meetings, carrying on liaison with other professional organizations in the college district, and coordinating the Faculty Association’s business with the executive secretary. The president is the chief spokesperson for the Faculty Association.
Section 3. The vice-president shall be elected through a majority vote of the Council. The vice-president’s duties include, but are not limited to, assuming the role of the president in the absence of the president.
Section 4. The executive secretary shall be elected by the Council and serve as an ex-officio member of the Council during her/his term. Any candidate for executive secretary shall be a member of the Faculty Association. The executive secretary’s duties include, but are not limited to, gathering information needed by the Council and other Faculty Association committees, preparing Faculty Association publications, preparing Faculty Association budget proposal, conducting elections, advertising meetings, coordinating the activities of the Council with the activities of the Council committees, soliciting and transmitting to the Council consensus views among other professional organizations, managing a Faculty Association office, keeping accurate records of all Faculty Association transactions.
Section 5. Faculty Association officers shall be given compensation in released time and/or monetary payments. The amount of compensation shall be determined by the Executive Council after due consideration of Faculty Association resources.
Section 1. The Executive Council shall call a general meeting of the Faculty Association within 15 working days of the conclusion of negotiations for the purpose of ratification of tentative agreements reached with the college district. Such negotiated agreements shall be ratified or rejected by a majority vote of the Faculty Association members present at the meeting.
Section 2. Upon written request of twenty-five (25) members of the Faculty Association, or whenever deemed necessary by the Council, general Faculty Association meetings shall be called and publicized by the executive secretary.
Changes to this Constitution may be proposed by any member of the Faculty Association and shall be accomplished in the following manner:
1. A written proposed Constitutional change shall be presented to the Executive Council at one of its regular meetings. Intention to present the proposed change must be declared before the meeting to allow time for the proposal’s inclusion in the meeting agenda.
2. At its next regular meeting, the Board shall decide whether or not to submit the proposed change to the membership for a vote. Two thirds of the Executive Council must approve before the issue will be taken to the membership for a vote.
3. If Executive Council approval is obtained, the proposed change will be reproduced and distributed to all Faculty Association members.
4. A vote of the Faculty Association membership will be obtained not more than ten (10) working days after distribution of the proposed change. An affirmative vote of a majority of those voting shall be required for approval.
Section 1. The Faculty Association is and shall continue to be incorporated as a nonprofit organization pursuant to appropriate state and federal statutes.
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